Q.1 What were the factors that worked in the drafting of the American Constitution? To what extent, American Constitution can be called of British origin?

Q.2 “At the news of the Declaration of Independence crowds gathered to cheer, fire guns and cannon and ring church bells in Philadelphia. Boston and other places, but there were many people in America who did not rejoice.” Comment.

Q.2 “At the news of the Declaration of Independence crowds gathered to cheer, fire guns and cannon and ring church bells in Philadelphia. Boston and other places, but there were many people in America who did not rejoice.” Comment.

Ans: Declaration of Independence was proclaimed during the American Revolutionary war. The war had not been won, but the declaration was unanimously accepted by the thirteen colonies, and United States was born.

American society during the time was highly divided. It consisted of colonists, native Americans, blacks etc. Colonists were themselves divided into supporters of a break-away nation and loyalists who were against it. Though most colonists wanted a separated nation, loyalists were also in significant numbers (about 1/3rd of colonists). There were officials and clergymen who thought it was not right to challenge the British rule. Also, conservatives wanted to maintain the status-quo. Many were not optimistic of the victory of the revolutionary forces.

Blacks, many of whom were guaranteed manumission by the British had the war been won, and native Americans were suspicious of the new regime. They thought their rights would be better protected by the crown. Native Americans were fearful of American expansion eastwards. The Declaration too, was not all-inclusive in character. It excluded rights of women and though contained “all men…”, it did not mention the rights of native Americans and blacks. It was a period of uncertainty for them. The Continental Army also forbid the recruitment of blacks, which intensified their fears.

Historians have debated whether American revolution was ‘truly revolutionary’ or not. Declaration of Independence did not bring about true equality, but it was a step towards later initiatives like the Bill of Rights.